Envelop-sealing machine.



No. 884,081. l PATENTED APR. '7, 1908. G. J. FANCHER L H. S. PARMELEE.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 21, 190s.

'IsHBBTs-SHBET a I] 1I IIN, n I

witnesses l .O9

No.884,081. PATENTED APR. 7, 1908. G. J. PANGHER & H. S..PARMELEE.

ENVELOP SBALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IvILED DEO. 21, 1906.

'I SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED APR. 7, 1908. RMBLEE. CHINE.

C. '.T. FANGHI-3R n H. S. PA

BNVELOP SEAVLING MA APPLICATION FILED DBU.21, 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

No. 884,081. PATENTES APR. 7, 1908.

EBEE= EINE. APPLICATION FILED DBG. 21, 1906.

C. J. PANCEBR a H. S. FARM ENVELP SEALING MAG' 7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

mm2/mbz@ MCS'. ml

PATENTED APR. 7 PARMELBB.

EN VELOP SEALING 7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

UNTTED STATES ArA'iIENT oEFroE- CHARLES JAMES EANUHEE AND HUBERT sYLvEsTEE rARMELEE, oFwEST GEANBY, ooN- NEcTIcUT, AssieNoRs To THE SIMPLEX MANUFACTURING conrANv, .or NEW YORK,

N. Y., `A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

vENVELOP-SE.ALING MACHINE..

Specication of Letters Patent.-

Patented April 7, 19,08.

Application led December 21., 1906. Serial No. 348,919.

To 'all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES J. FANGHER and HUBERT S. PARMELEE, both citizens of the United States of America, and residents of West Granby, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a, new anduseful Envelop-Sealing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in c automatic'machines for sealing envelops,'and

more particularly to the kind` of machine covered by United States Letters Patent, No. 812,236, issued lto us February 13th, 1906, and consists in new and improved features of =i5constructi on in the different p'arts, combinations of parts and mechanisms throughout the machine, and in the addition of a counting device for the envelops sealed by themachine, and in other additions, all as herein- 2o aftersetforth. c

Although in general construction andi-operation the new machine is very similar to the old one, the numerous structural differences and additions render them dissimilar in many respects, add novelty to the new machine, and greatly enhance the efficiency .and value of the same. v The objects ofouriinvention are, first, to

produce la compact, easily operated or light-I Bo running, and comparativelynoiseless machine, Whichis capable of handling to advantage and securely sealing envelops of almost any size and bulk; second, to provide such a machine with improved means for 3 5 confining theiunsealed envelope on the upper level, and for sealing and confining them at. or on such lower level; third, to provide 1m-v level, for removing them one at a time from such level and transferring them to the lower proved mechanism for operating the wiper which applies moisture tothe envelop flaps during the transfer from one level to the other; fourth, to provide means for counting the envelops 4as they pass through the machine, and, iifth, to embody in an envelopsealing machine all the necessary and advansection of said machine, looking toward the left-hand side, with envelops on both sup ports as in the preceding view; Fig. 4, a vertical section .taken close to the right-hand side of the machine; Fig. 5, a detailview of a part of the Wiper-actuating mechanism, showing the same differently disposed from cio the way it appears in Fig.- 4; Fi 6,-an enlarged sectional-view of one of -t e follower detents; Fig. 7, an enlarged side view of thecounting mechanism; Fig. 8, an' enlarged front view of vsaid mechanism; Fig. 9, an en= larged side view .of one of the envelop-stop and -releasing fingersV and o erating mechanism therefor, and of one olJ the envelop-depressor or abutment rollers and operating mechanism therefor, the inactive or mo erative positions of the iinger and roller eing shown in full lines and the active oroperative positions in dotted lines; Fig. 10, an enlarged view of the backside of the depessor-plate;. Fig. 11, an enlargedv longitudinal section of' lone of the pneumatic devices which forms' part of the wiper mechanism; Fig.- 12, an cnlarg'ed vertical section of the upper portion of plate rises; F 1'3, an

when the ilap-openin one of the connecting enlarged side View o links in the wiper mechanism, and Fig. i4, an .enlarged plan view of the same.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The frame of he machine the drawings consists of suitable standards,

-uprights or sides 1 and 2 connected by crosspieces 3, 4, 5 and 6 of proper shape and rightly located. The upper or delive platform lor support for the unsealed enve ops'in this case consists of two side rods 7 and a longer middle vrod S all having 'their rear ends screwed into the cross-piece 4, and alower orreceiving platform or support for the sealed envelope is similarly madel up the rods here having theirrear ends screwed into the-cross-piece 6. A Water-tank or reservoir 9 is removably supported bythe crosspiece 5 and a horizontal platee 10 fastened to the device which prevents the rearinost envelops from becoming displaced upward illustrated in said'crossiece, a clip 11 and set-screw '12' being emp oyed to hold said reservoir in place. a lug 13 underneath the cross-piece 5 and the set-screw 12 enters into threaded engage-- ment with said lug from below and is ada ted to bear against the clip. Upon loosening One end ofthe clip 1- 1 passes throughthe set-.screw `12 anu drawin back the clip and turning its upper termina to one side the reservoir can readily be removed. ln the front part of the reservoir is a mass 14 of absorbent material, as felt, such material being expose-d through an opening in the to of the reservoir. The front edge of the p ate is turned up, as shown at 10*l in Fig. 3, to receive a pointed projection 9 at the lower front corner of each side 9b of the reservoir 9. The'projections 9, when beneath the upturned edge 10a lof the plate 10, assist lthe 'ellip 11 in securely holding the reservoir in ace. p Mounted 0n the rods which constitute the up er and lower envelop supports are two fol owers for the envelops, each consisting of a vertical plate 15 at the rear end of' a sleeve. 16, together with yielding means to actuate'such sleeve with its plate backward. The sleevs 16 are mounted to slide on the middle rods 3. The yielding actuating means or tension device for each follower consists of a shaft 17 journaled between the sides 1 and 2, a winding-sheave 18 loosely mounted-on such shaft, a spring 19 having one end fastened to said shaft and the other end to said winding-sheave, a cord 20 having one end fastened to the winding-sheave and the other end to a lug 21 on the bottom of the corresponding sleeve 16, and means to wind up said spring and keep it under proper tension. The winding, holding and releasing means for each of the springs 19 consists of a thumb-nut 22 on each. shaft 17 outside of the side 2 of the frame, a ratchet-wheel 23 on such shaft inside of the frame, and a double locking pawl or detent which forms an escapement pawl 24 pivoted at 25 to the inside face of sa1dside2 and engaging the associated ratchetwheel- At the front end of each sleeve 16 is an upright lug 26 recessed. toreceive a latch 27 and a sprin 28, the former being pivoted at 29 to said lug as shown in Fig. 6. Each latch 27 is adapted to automatically enter a groove 30 in each rod 8 near its front end when the sleeve 16 with-which said latch is connected is drawn forward, and thus it retains said sleeve in its extreme forward position until released by ressing the upper projecting part of the atch inward to disengage the lower part thereof from the sides of said groove, the

pivot against the ring about such t ough the medium of the thumbenuts 22,

to wind up the springs 19, .the ratchet-wheels 23 clicking past the pawls 24 during the winding up of the springs without odering any resistance. The escapement pawls 24 revent .the shafts 17 from being rotated y the springs 19, except whensaid pawls are oscil ssaber lated or rocked back and 'forth on their pivots 25 to impart a step-bystep movement to said shafts for the purpose of relaxing the springs when they are wound too tightly\, or

to permit them to unwind. completely .in case on-.the upper support backward, so that one envelop after another can be removed therelfrom, and the lower follower serves to press the envelops together as they are deposited' on the lower su port to insure the thorough sticking of the velops. In practice the upper follower is' drawn forward and either locked into place with its latch or not, as desired, and a package of envelops 3 1 is placed on the upper sup aps to the backs of the enport rods 7 and 8, then said follower is per- 90 mitted to be forcibly brought into contact with said package by means of the springactuated rotary tension device described above. The envelops are held between the follower and other members presently to be described, and said follower moves backward under the influence of the aforesaid tension device until the last envelop has been removed from the package, after which the fol-v lower must be drawn forward again to permit.; 10g

more envelops to be.,placed on the upper support. rl`he top of the cross-piece 4 forms part of the upper support, and the backward movement of the corresponding follower isV limited bv said crossiece `in the absence -of any envelops on said support, since the follower sleeve 16 then encounters the cross` piece. The crosspiece 6 limits the backward movement of the lower follower which is left in contact therewith at the beginning of the operation of the machine, but is forced forward against the tension of the lower spring 19 as the envelops are fed onto the lower support. When it is desired to remove the sealed envelops from the lower support the lower follower is drawn forward and may be locked in place by means of its latch 27, after which said follower is released and permitted to move back until checked by the cross-piece 6. To prevent the first few envelops at the back cf the package on the upper support from being forced upward during the operation of the machine, a vertical. rod 32 is employed, such rod having a horizontal plate or foot-piece33 at the bottom and being slidingly mounted in a cross-bar 34 on the front ofthe frame. Projecting forward from this cross-bar is a nipple 35 within which are a loose p in 36 and a spring 37 heid in place by a senesi screw38 tapped into the iront endoil said nipple, Fig. 12. The inner end of the` pin 36 engages a longitudinal groove 39 in the rod 32. The spring 37 is between the 4head of the pin 36 and theadjacent end of this screw 38 and presses said pin against the ,back sideof the groove 39, the amount of pressure being made greater or less by adjusting said screw in lor out.' The office ofthe spring-pressed pin is,- not only to prevent the rod 32 from turnn but a so tocreate suiiicient friction to hol said rod wherever it may be left after being movedto the proper height to retain the 'envelope on the support below.

The unsealed envelo s, placed on the upper. support with their aps down and toward the rear," are pressed by t eir follower against a vertically reciprocating stop and flap o ening plate 40 and two fingers 41, with t ese 2a latter however said envelops are not always erated to rise back of the package 31 ator y near the bottom and to recede from such po-y sition. One of these stop fingers with its actuating mechanism is clearly illustratedin Fig. 9 and will' next be described. The iinger 41 is curved inthe peculiar manner shown,

has the. end -of its front curved terminal.

' pivoted at 43 to -a .lug 44 on the front ofthe cross-piece l4,"is :provided with teeth. 45 on 'the loweredge, and turnsup at the backto form a hook-like extension. or iin'ger proper which is adapted to come up behind the pack- 'age 31 and engage the same a little above the in the sides of theframe carries a segmentgear 47 which meshes with the teeth 45 and .when oscillated causes the iinger 41 to rise.

\ The vertical stop-plate and flap-opener 40,

which hangs from a carrier-bar 40a, islocated in line with the rear edge of the upper support, or substantiallyso. The carrier-A jbar 4()a is provided at'the ends with slides 48-`48 mounted to reci' rocate vertically on guide rods 49-49 iixe in suitable lugs on the front edges of the sides 1 and 2. The aforesaid slidesand other similar slides in the .machine are provided with anti-friction rollers and are' constructed and operated in the ,usual and well-known manner.

50-56 represent yielding buffers. on the rods'49 which prevent shock when the slides 48 and the plate -40 descend. The plate 40 has a flap-opening beak 51 on the back at the bottom. Some portion of 'the late 40 is alys front of the package o unsealed en- ":psffs'o that said plate acts asa stop, and

alsos'ervesto o en the envelop iiaps. J Supported by u s l52--52 on the inside of the'frame sides an i by the cross-piece Gare 55 .two guide rods 53 for alike number of slides in contact since they are intermittently op bottom edge thereof.` lA shaft 46 journaled` 54 at the ends of a carrier-bar 55. Stoppins'56 rise fromthe carrier-bar 55 and are adapted to reciprocate vertically' through holes in the cross-piece 6. The back end of each slide 54 is pivotally connected'at 57 to an actuating bar 58. The upper end of each bar 58 is pivotally connected at 59 with a curved crank-arm 60 mounted on a shaft 61 journaled in the sides 1 and 2, and the base of an actuating bar 62 for one of the slides 48 is also pivotalcly connected with said crankarmat 63, the upper end of said bar 62 being pivoted at 64 to the slide. Each pivotal connection 59 passes through a slot 65 in the corresponding rain'e side.` The connection be-V tween the carrier-bar l55 and the plate 40 is -such that they must both frise and fall tog'ether, so that when said plate is elevated the pins 5 6 are raised in Jfront of' the lower follower or of the interposed envelops, ,and

when the platepis depressed said. pins are withdrawn 4from such position..v .We make provision'for adjustment between the bar.=62 and the crank-arm 60' by slotting'the latter at 66 and formin the pivotal 'connection through this slot,l utsuch vprovision is not -always necessary and when not resorted to .the two members can be pivoted together in `the-usual way. The `central line of the slot 66 should be an arcorl a vcircle having a radius' equal to the distance 'between the two iv- '.'otal centers of the bar 62, and then the limit .of downward travel'of lthe plateJliOv can be fixed at a higher or Ilower plane by changin the point 63, while the. limit of upward trave always remains the same.

Within the frame `are two vertical guide- 'rods 67 supported at the upper end 'by the cross-'piece 3 and at the bottom by suitable lugs on thesides 1 and' 2.lv Verticall'y reci rocatingslides 68-68' are-'mounted on t e guide-rods 67, and a depressor plate 69 depends from a carrier-bar 70 extending between said slides. Each slide 68 is provided with a rearwardly-extending arm71 having 119 va pivotally attached slide72at its back end. -Two oscillating arms 73 are pivoted at 74--74 inside of the frame to thesides land 2 or to suitable lugs thereon and are connected atv the top by a rod 75. The anti-friction4 rollersin the slides 72 engage the edges of the upper portions oi the arms 73, and the shape 'oi the arms or of said upperportions is such thatsaid arms willbe oscillated when said slides move up and down,'the upwardniovement oi the slides' actuating the arms forward and the downward movement actuating them rearward. A presser-plate 76 eX- tends between and connects the arms 73, such plate being slotted at 77 to accomniodate the pins 56. The presser-plate 76 is designed to press the envelops against the lower follower to insure 'the sticking ofthe iiaps, and to move the package on the lower support Jfar enough forward to enable the pins 56 to come up behind the' envelop last sweeps theenvelops from the straps onto the lower support.

Inside of each frame upright a horizontal rod 80 is supported between the cross-piece 4 and a suitable lug on the corresponding A upright, as is best shown in Figs.v 4 and 5,

and ltwo slides 81 and 82 are 4mounted to reciprocate von said rod. connected by a horizontal wiper-support 83 extending across the machine approximately on a level with the upper envelop support. The rearward movement of the wiper support 83 is limited by eai's34 o n the front ends of the slides 81 which, encounter lthe supporting lugs 85 for the bottoms of the guide-rods 67. Each slide 32 -is connected with the `adjacent arm 73 by a link 36 having one end pivoted at 37 to .said arm and the other eiid pivoted at 88 to saidslide. A spring 89 extends between the link S6 and the slide-81 on each side of thel machine. At the' back end of each link 86 is an ear 90. Pivoted at 91 to each side of tlieframe on the inside and tensioned upward by a spring 92 is a lifter 93 terminating at the back in a hook 94. A stop pin 95 extends inward from each side of the frame into the path of the corresponding lifter 93. Therear ends of a wiper frame 96 are pivoted at S8 to the slides SQ-Awith the links 86. A pin 97 projects outward from each side of the frame 96' over` the adjacent lifter 93, and serves.

both as an engaging means between the frame and lifter and as a point' of attachment for a device which aflords both a tension and a cushion for the wiper, such device being described in the paragraph below.- The wiper proper, which iiioisltens the flaps of the envelops, consists of two inverted troughs 98 -firmly attached to the front crossbar of the -fraine 96, such troughs .being filled` with masses 99 of absorbent material, 'as' felt. The two sections of the actual wiper are vseparated sufficientlyv to clear the beak 51 of tension on the wiper and at the saine time The slides 81 aresenesi prevent said wiper from operating with ,la shock and trein making -too much noise, wemfv provide a pneumatic regulator at each side 'piston .101, a pistonfrod 102, and aspring103'.

The .pistonrod 102 reciprocates through a plug 104 screwedinto a `cap 105 on the tube 100.` `The spring 103 encircles the .piston-rod betweenthe plug 104 and the piston 101. By changing the'po'sition of they/plug the tension lon lthe spring will bei-ricreas'ed'or decreased accordingly as said plug is`s`crewed in or eut. At the bottom of the tube is/a nipple 106 screwed into which is a plug 107 adapted to regulate the escape of air from said tube through a passage 108 leading from the interiorof the tube into said and a perforation 109 in one side of the nipple.

The piston l.descends vunder the influence of the spring more rapidly when the plug 107 is screwed outward, which permits a larger volume of air to escape than whensaid plug is 'screwed inward so as to reduce such volume. When the piston is raised the air above it escapes from the, tube through a vent hole 110 in the sideof said tube, andl the air which'is to serve as a cushion for 'the piston when it descends again enters, through the perforation 109 and the passage 108. Suitable packing is provided? The base of each tube 100 is pivoted at 1,1 1. to the outside face of the associated arm 73, and the piston-rod 102 in such tube has its upper projecting terminal pivoted to the corresponding pin 97 on the wiper frame.

The wiper-actuating mechanism operates as follows, assuming that the )arts stand as shown in Fig. 4: The forward movement of the arms 73. moves the slides 82 in the same nipple :g5

direction, through the medium of the links 36, .sa-id slides carry with them the frame 96,

and, owing t-o the fact that the pins .97 are new so engaged with the lifter hooks 94 as -to force the litters 93 upward on their ivots 91, said frame is caused to rise by said ifters, the piston-rods 102 being drawn further out lof the tubes 100 against the resiliency of the builers 112`of leather or other suitable mate-- rial being provided on the aforesaid edge of the wiper-support to receivesaid arms and lessen the shock of contact between the arms As the armsjZS continue and the wiperfsupport. vWhen the lifters- 93 reach the stop pins 954 further movement in the direction 1n which they have been goi esamiing ceases, and the pins 97 are forced out ofl engagement with saidv litters by the for-` ward y moving parts and vby the ears 9() on the links 86, which ears contact. with the back edges of said frame at the time the lifters Contact with thesto pins, see Fig. 5. When, at theend of the iorward movement of the' arms 73, thewiper becomes disengaged from the liite'rs, it is brought down forcibly under the influence of the springs'103 onto the wiper-support to nioisten thegummed surface of an envelop flap'thereon, yet not so forcibly as to create too much of a jar or to make avery perceptible noise since the air in the tubes 100 vbetween' thepistons 10,1 and the bottoms of the t-ubes at this time is unable to escape quickly enough through 'the passageslOS and the perforations 109 to avoid being compressed, Wherefore such air acts with such members.

' at lthe next cycle of the machine.

as a cushion for the pistons near the end of their downward stroke and the wiper -is thereby caused tocome into contact with 4the wiper- -suppo'rt without undue-shock. Upon the return or rearward sweep of the' .arms 73, the Wiper and the wiper-support are carried backward with the former resting on' the latter, 'through t-he medium of. the links 86, slides 82 and 81 and springs 89, un- I 4 til the ears 34 encounter the lugs S5 whenV said Wiper-'support stops and the Wiper is dra'gged therefromonto the reservoir mass 1,4 .to receive more moisture .for another envelop flap During the backward vmovement of `the frame A96, which isl then' in a substantially horizontal position, lthe pins Q7 strike the lifters, press A`them down against the resiliency of the springs 92, and ride over theminto. encragement again with the hooks 94.- lt will'be understood, of course, that the wiper regnlators travel back vand forth with the arms 7,3 and the Wiper frame, and are made operative by reason of their pivotal connections As a convenient means of attachment on the links 86 and the slides l81 for the springs S9, each link may be provided With a li'orn 113, best shown in Figs. 13 and 14, and each slide with a similar liorn.

The driving or actuating mechanism of the machine will neXt. be described, particular reference being had in this connection to Figs. 1, 2 and 4. A shaft 114 is journaled in the sides -1 and 2, below the plane of the upper envelop support and above the shaft 61,

and crank-arms 115-'115 fast on the outer ends of 'said shaft `are connected by links 1 16-116 With the depressor-arms 7 1, each of such links being pivoted at 117 to the associated crank-arm and at 113 to the associated depressor arm. A pinion 119 is tightly mounted on the shaft 61 inside of the upright 2 on the Working side of the machine,

and a pinion 120, mounted on the shaft 46, meshes With said pinion 119. Meshing with the pinion 120 is a pinion 121 on a stud 122 vabove theshaft 46, and still anotherpinon 12S-meshes With the pinion 121, a stud 124 above and behind the stud 122 being provided for said pinion-123. The pinion 123v is tight on the stud 124. The crank-arm v6() is'continued to form a trip-arm ,125', and a trip-arm 126 is fast on the outer end of the stud 124.v Both of said trip-arms. are long enough to extend into the path of av pin112`7 projecting from the inside of the associated crank-arm 115, and the trip-arms'are provided at their outer or free terminals with feet 128 having curved outer bear edges for said pin so that the latter can ri e over' and off of the same Without shock or jar 4or any tendency to backlash, as would bethe case inthe absence of such feet. vA. handle 129, by means 'of which the machine is manuallyoperated, 'is attached to the pivot127v on the Working side of the machine. The

'action of the above described parts be hereinafter briefly explained.

As a means to steady the action of the train of actuating pinions, We make use of a.

toothed segment 130 mountedon a stud 131 inside of the upright 2, such segment being constantly under tension of' a suitable spring 132 and having its teeth in mesh with the pinion 119. the pinions, more when the mechanism acts to draw down the stop ngers 4.1 through' the.

' medium'of theintermeshing pinions 119 and 120, vat Whichtime the segment 130 is turned This device puts a tension onl toA the right from the position W 'ch it oocupies in Fig. 4, than when said mechanism acts to raise said fingers, and prevents backlash.

Cooperating with the depressor-plate are their iiaps have been Inoistened, from the upper to thel lower level, and mechanism for throwing such rollers into andv out of contact with the depressor-plate. Referring again to Fig. 9, Where one of these rollers, which vmay be termed abutment rollers,.is shown at two rollers designed to assist said depressorplate to properly transfer the envelops, after 133, it Will be seen that the actuating mecharranged to retain said arm 137 in contact with said cam or its shaft except when an en velop between the roller and the depressorplate prevents such contact.V This mechanism operates as follows: When the cam -140 risesbeneath the arm 137 the latter is moved l the depressor-plate or the envelop carried `vent the same from slipping.

.downward thereby. These abutment rollers assist the depressor-plate in keeping the envelope straight during their transfer from the upper to the lower support and make the action of the depressor-plate more positive. The front surface of the depressor-plate 69 may be abraded, roughened or scored, as shown at' .142 in Fig. v 1, where said depressorplate in the absence ofan envelop comes into Contact with the rollers 133, in orde'r to hold an interposed envelop more firmly and prele prefer also to provide the depressor plate with vertical ribs 143 on the back near the bottom edge, so as to obviate any liability of adhering to said depressor-plate on the part of the moistened envelop flap. These ribs are best shown in Fig. 10. Any other suitable means beside the ribs 143 may be employed for` rendering the surface of the depressor-plate with which the moistened gummed surface of the envelop flap contacts uneven, irregular or broken. p

Passing finally to the counting device, by means of which an accurate record is made of every ,envelo that passes through the machine, it will e noticed that we so attach a cyclometer 144, or other suitable counter, on the inside of the upright Ztliat its dial shows through an opening 145 in-such upright, as will be seen in Fig. 2. The operating mechanism for this counter, whereby the same is caused to register every envelop v sealed, butV fails to work while the machine although in motion is not transferring en# velops from one level to the other, is 'clearly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, towhich attention is now called. The counter 144, which is held in position by rods 14S-146 extending inward from the side 2 and by a plate 147 rod 151 is rotatably mounted in arearwardlyon the inner ends of 'said rods, is provided with an operating arm 148 "which every timeit is oscillated Works the interior mechanismand shows a higher number at the opening 145. A bar 149 has one end pivota ly attached tothe arm 148 and the other end engaged by.. a hook 15() fast on the lower terminal of a vertical shaft or rod 151.v The extending bracket or bearing 152 fastened on the back edge of thecross-piece 6 and in a forwardly-.extending bracket or bearing 153 fastened to the top of the cross-piece 5..

ascesi.

ARigidlyfastened to the top of the rod 151- finger 154, consisting of a short orizontal shaft or rod 157, an angular arm 158 and a lip 159 fast on such arm, and a spring 160.

The arm 158 is below the wiper-support and the lip 159 is above said wiper-support, being extended upward and rearwardly into such position. The spring 160 is so arranged in connection with the'rod 157 as to normally retain the arm 158 with its elbow against the bottom of the wiper-support and its free end above the' horizontal vplane and out `of the way of the'finger 154, and to keep the lip 159 raised above the wiper-support, as shown in Fig. 8. Properly locatedon the backof the cross-piece 4 i line with the curved front part of the lip 15. a dog 161.-.

T he operation of the mechanism just described is as follows: The spring 160 causes the trip-arm 1'58 to be carried above the finger .15.4 when the'wiperfsupport de.

if no envelop flap be turned down onto the wiper-support, by the plate 40 and its beak, to be held by the wiper, which immediately descends, and in turn to itself hold down the lip 159 when the wipersupport travels away from the dog 161, then the trip members will at once respond to the spring andthe arm will pass over the '1i-nger 154without touching the same, but in the presenceof a flap on the wiper-support the trip members. are held down thereby until said arm engages and actuates said iinger' and thusl causes the counter 144 to record the passa e of another envelop, throughthe medium of the rod 151, hook 150, bar 149 and arm 148. These lastmentioned members are actuated to the left by the arm 158 and the finger 1.54, but as'- soon as, said arm passes and clears said finger the spring l155 acts to reverse the movement of said members and to restore' them to their former position. v.The lip 159 'flies up again under the influence ofthe triplwiperis in operative connection with the" w1 per-suppor t.

eral operation of the` machine as a whole is similar to that s'et forth in detail in our aforesaid patent, a brief descriptionof what takes placca-t4 each revolution of the crank-,arms 115'as operated by the handle 129, startinr from the point where said handle rests and 'moving in the direction of the arrow in Fig.

2, will be given.

The envelops 31 are first placed on the uppersupport with their flaps toward the back and at the bottom', then'the handle 129-is trip-arm.

moved in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 2, with the resultthat the pin 127 actuates the tri -arm 125 and the crank-arms 60 with the lin s 62 and 'the bars 58 cause the plate 4()l and the pinsf56 to descend, also the sto fingers 41, all before said pin'rides off o said Atthe same time the crank-arms 115 and links 116 raise the depressor-plate 169 and draw inward the arms 73 through thej medium of the intervening mechanism. The late 14 in its descent engages the flap 164, ig. 3, of thefront envelop on the upper support'and with the beak 51 presses it downward'. The presser-plate 76 has moved forward to engage the envelops on the lower support and hold, them in posi-tion in lieu of f the pins 56, `which have descended below the top plane of the straps 7 9. When the-arms 73 rock forward, the Wiper is tilted up and poised bv the means and in the manner val' ready fully described, the absorbent masses -98 having become moistened by contact with the mass 1'4 in the reservoir 9, it being understood, of course, that said reservoircontains water. The wi er is now poised in position ready to come (lown onto the gummed surface ofthe flap 164, and the wiper-support is in positionbeneath said flap to receive said "with the hooks 94l and drops onto t e flap wiper. The parts now stand substantially as shown in Fig. 3. As the handle moves on' the arms 73 are drawn still further forward and -the wiperv is forced out of enga vement and wiper-su port; At the same time the plate 69 is 'st` l further elevated and the plate 76 forced further forward and tightly pressed against thejenvelpston the lower support to com res's them and causev their flaps-those whidh are not, et dry-=to adhere securelyto the backs. en the pin `127 contacts with andV actuat'es the" trip-arm 126, the latter, through -the medium of the train of pinions,

vcommences to cause'jthe shaft 61 to rotate. whereby the lelevation' of the plate 40 'and between them.

469 comes down onto sa1 the junction of the flap with the 'sorbent material in t e reservoir.

ins 56'and the raising of the Vfingers 41 are rought about. Before the pin 127 rides o of the trip-arm 126 the plate 40 and the pins 56 have risen to their highest positions. During this time the crank-arms 115 and the links 116 begin to draw down the depressorplate 69 and through the medium of the arms 73 to move 'back both the wiper and the wiper-'support with therenvelop lia Orasped The ears 84 an ugs 85 check the wiper-support at the proper time. W'hile the fla of the envelop in transit is in the grasp of t e wiper and wiper-support the plate 40 withits beak rises to a posltion near i 'the top ofzsuch envelop, the latter is dravm backward off of the sup ort, and the plate dpenvelo at or near Lbody thereof. This envelop is now held at its u per part between the package under tension om the u per spring 19 on' the upper platform and t e plate '40 and bythe flap, as explained, while the plate 69 is on the point of orcing said envelop out of the grasp of the up er follower. A

s the handle 129 asses on to complete thecircle which it is dlscribing, the arms 73 are forced clear back v and the wiper-is drawn off of the wiper-sup ort and onto the ab- The contact of the wiper, under the influence of the s rings 103, with the absorbent material in the reservoir tends to thoroughly meisten` the absorbent material of the wiper so that it isypre ared to n'ioisten the Uummed surv face of t e flap of the nextl envelop.

The plate 69 has now been de ressed into its lowest position, carrying wit rit the envelop beiner acted upon. As said plate descends it draws 4the flap from Abeneath the wiper before the latter leaves the i er-suport and also drags the envelop free om the orce that held it at the top. lIt is at this time that the abut-ment rollers 133come into v action,'they having 'been thrown backward and upward into position by means of the mechanism operated by the cams 140 on the shaft 114 and the springs 141 just as the plate 69 commences to act on the envelop, the cams moving from beneath the arms 137 and leaving said arms tothe influence of said s rings. After the'rollers 133 'have served t eir purpose of assisting to guide and vsteady the envelop carried down by the plate 69, the .Cams 140' act to throw said rollerslout of operative positionso as to permit the envelop to drop. The envelop now drops onto the straps 79 on the cross-piece 6 between the presser-plate 76 andthe .pins 56'. The en- 'Y velop is securely sealed during the next cycle of th'e mechanism at the time said presserplate moves into its extreme forward osition, and at this time the package an( the follower on the lower or receiving support are 'forced forward'v against the resiliency of the lower spring 1Q and the pins 56 come up in the slots?? in front of the envelope, between which pins and tln'iowerfel-loiver the envelops are 'held lwhen said presser-p ate moves rearwardV again..

During each cycle of the machine the counting mechanism operates in VWhole orr in part, accordingly as to whether or' not an envelop be grasped between the Wiperv and wiper-support, in the mannerhereinbefore The machine can be operated by power instead of by hand Without materially changing the driving mechanism p -What We claim as `our invention, and de. sire to securebyietters Patent, is

1. The comb1na`tion,; in' an envelo -sealing imachine, with' a-supporting part of t e frame of theY machine," and a reservoir supported thereby, of a clip adapted to engage said reservoir at the backfand means toVV fasten said y its frontedge turned'up, of a reservoir adaptclip'to saidsu portingivpart.

'2. flhe com inatiom .m an envelop-sealing machine, ,with the frame of the machine, and' a plate supportedby said frame andi having ed to be mountedon said plate and' providedV E'With projections to engagethe upturned edge 3. The-combinationpin an envelop-sealmg machine; Witha 'cross lieee -of the 'frame of the' lmaehine,t andiap ate attachedl to said "cros'sepiece and having its front edge turned up, of a reservoir adapted to be mounted on said plate and provided with projections `to j engage the up-turned-edgeof the plate, a

' clip adapted toengage said reservoir at the back, and means to fasten-said clip to the cross-piece.

4. The combination, in an envelop-sealing "machine, With the frame-off' the machine, en#

velo'p supporting rods on 'suchiframa and an envelop followercomprising a plateand a supporting sleeve therefor, such sleeve being slidingly mounted on oneof such rods, of`a lshaft xiournaled m sald frame, asheave -on 'mounted on saidshaft, a cord connectingI said follower with said sheave, a Winding spring attached to the shaft and sheave, a ratchet-wheel on the shaft,'and a detent for such ratcl'let-n'heel.

6, 'lhey combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with the frame ofthe machine, an envelop support lon such frame, and an en- 'sible -elevation by fric-tional engagement.

velop follower slidingly mounted on said support, of a shaft iournaled in said frame, a shcave mounted on said shaft, a cord connecting said follower With said sheave, a Winding spring attached to the shaft and sheave, a yratchet-Wheel on the shaft, and an escapement paWl pivoted to the frame in operative relation with said ratchet-Wheel 7. The'combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with a support-ing rod, of an en velop follower slidingly mounted on saidl rod,

`means to tension said follower in one direction, and lmeans vto lo'c'k said follower to said rod and hold it against sai-d tension means.

S. The combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with the frame of the machine, and' a supporting rod projecting from said frame and having an engaging part for a latch, of

-an envelop-follower sleeve slidingly mounted on said rod, and a latch carried by said sleeve, adapted to yengage and release said engaging part of the rod.

9. The combination, in an envelop-sealmg machine, with the frame of the machine, and

groove'd supportingI rod projecting from said frame, of an envelop-follower sleeveslidn mgly mounted onsaid rod, a lug on said sleeve, and spring-pressedv latch pivotally connected with vsaid lug, said latch being adapted to engage and release the grooved part of the rod. l

-l0. The combination, in an envelopseal- I,ing machine, with a cross-bar of the frame of the Vmaclniiaoff an envelop' retainer com prlsmg a rod shdm'gly. mounted in said cross-N barand provided vvith a foot-piece, and a spring-pressed memberarranged in the cross' bar to bear against said rod, for' the purpose of holding it with its footfpiece at any pos-- 11. 'The combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with a cross-bar of the frame of vthe machine, of an envelop` retainer comprising a longitudinally grooved rod slidingly mounted in said cross-bar and provided with a foot-piece, and a spring-pressed pin arranged in the cross-bar to'frictionally engage the groovedpart of said rod for :the purpose of preventing the same from turning andl of holding it with its foot-piece at any possible elevation.

l2. The combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with a cross-bar of the frame of the machine, of an envelop retainer com prising a longitudinally grooved rod slidingly mounted in said cross-bar and provided with foot-piece, a spring-pressed pin arranged in the cross'f-.bar to frictionally engage the grooved part of said rod for the purpose of preventing the same from turning and of holding it with its foot-piece at any possible elevation, and means to vary the tension on A said pin.

13. Thecombination, in an envelop-seal- Y ing machine, With an envelop support and al Lao follower thereon, of areciproc/iting plate andan oscillating finger, sai follower and the latter bemg below said plate and adapted to rise and fall behind the follower.

14. The combination, in an envelop-sealngl machine, with an envelop support and a ower thereon, of a reciprocating plate and. an oscillating finger bac of said follower, sald finger being below said plate, and means to ralse said finger lnto operative position behind the follower when the plate rises and position to withdraw the finger from such when `the plate descends. l u

y15. The combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, withan envelop support, of a l serrated finger ivotally mounted below said support, a roc shaft, and a segment-gear mountedon said rock-shaft and meshin with the finger serr'ations, to actuate sai nger. 16, The combination, in' anenvelp-sealing'machine, with an envelop support, of a serrated' finger pivotally mounted below said-support, a rock-shaft, a segmentgear mounted on said rock-shaft .and meshing with the finger serrations to actuate said finger and` means vto intermittentlyloperate the rock-shaft.

17.' In an en velop sealing-machine, the" combination, withanenvelop support havying' a follower thereon, ofstop pins adapted to operate' behind said follower across the course of the lattelja carrier bar for said pins, slides' at the ends of'said carrier-bar,` guide rods for said slides, vand means to reciprocate the slides on said rods.

18. In -an envelop-sealing machine, the

i combination, with'a reciprocating s top and flapopening plate, and supporting and actuating mechanism therefor consisting in part of slides and bars pivotally connected with said slides, of-crank-arms slotted to receive the pivots which connect the same to lsaid bars, whereby adjustment is afforded, and means to operate said crank-arms.

19. In an envelop-sealing machine, 'the combination, with'an envelop support having a follower thereon, of stop pins adapted to operate behind said follower across the course of the latter, acarrier-bar for said pins,

. -actuating bars for said pins connected with said carrier-bar and suitably mounted crank- I arms in direct pivotal connection with said combination, 'of a reciprocatingstop and actuating bars. i,

20. In an envelop-sealing machine, the

flap-opening plate, actuating bars connected with said p ate, stop pins and a carrier bar therefor actuating bars connected with said carrier-bar and suitably mounted crankarms in direct pivotal connection with both the plate-actuating vbars and the carrier-bar actuating bars.

21. In an envelop-sealing machine, lthe combination, witha cross-piece of the frame vof pivotallymo'unted l of .the machine, and straps on said cross- -piece, of means to deposit envelops on said straps, and means to remove said'envelo s therefrom, .the straps serving to prevent t e -envelops from coming in contact with the cross-piece. 222-. In lan envelop-sealing machine, an

.oscillating wiper springactuated in one direction, means to actuate saidwiper against the resiliency of its spring, andpneumatic means to cushion the-wiper when released to such spring. 23.

of pivotally -mounted'li ters-in the at of travel vof said wi er adapted to rise w en the latter isIactuate forward and to engage and elevate the same, and means Jnocause the wiper to become'disenga -ed from'the lif-ters at or near the end of the. orward movement of the Wiper.

The combination, in an envelo sea1. ing machine,with suitably supporte guide rods, a wiper mounted to reciprocate-on said. rods1 and `-means to reci rocate such Vwi er,

24,. The combination, in an envelo -seal-"' ing ymachine, withsuitably supportev guide rods, a wiper mounted to reciprocate on said rods, and means to reclitprocate such wiper, ters in the ath of travel of said wiper adapted to rise vw en the -latter isactuated forward and to engage and elevate the same, and sto s arranged to limit'the movement of sai direction and the lifters'.

25'. The combination, in van 'envelop-sealing machine, with suitably supported guide rods, a wiper mounted to reciprocate on said rods, and means to reci rocate suchwiper,

of pivotally mounted li ters in the path oftravel of said .wiper adapted to rise when the latter is actuated forward and to en age and elevate the same, stop's'arranged to imit the movement Vof said lifters in one direction whereby the wiper is permitted to ride off of fthe lifters, and means totensionthe litterstoward said sto. s'.

26. The comhinatiom'in an envelo -seal ing machine, with a reciprocating an oscillating .wiper,' means to reciprocate such wiper, and resilient means adapted to rock" rods, a wiper having slides mountedon such rods, a wiper-support having slides also mounted on such rods, resilient connections between the vwiper and support,- suitably mounted operating` arms adapted to bear on litters in one permit the wiper to ride ofl" of evate 'ard movement.

eine

.. against the force of such resilient connections, pivotal connections between such arms and the Wiper slides whereby said slides and the wiper move with the arms, ears on the wiper-support slides, and lugs in the paths of said ears to limit the movement of the wiper-support inthe direction of the force of said resilient connections. A

29. The combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with an oscillating wiper, of a tube provided with an air inlet and outlet,A a piston in said tube, and a piston-rod therefor connected with said wiper.

30. The combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with an oscillating wiper, of a tube, a piston in said tube, and a piston-rod therefor connected with said wiper, said tube being provided with air inlets and outlets both sides of said piston.

31. The combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with an oscillating wiper, of a tube with an air inle'tand outlet passage, means to regulate the size of said passage, a piston in said tube, and a piston-rod therefor connected with said wiper.

32. The combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with a wiper, of. a tube provided with an air inlet and outlet, a spring- .pressed piston in said tube, a piston-rod therefor connected with said wiper, and means first to actuate the wiper against the resistance offered by said spring-pressed piston and then to release the wiper to the infiuence of the same.

33. The combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with a wiper, vof a tube provided with an air inlet and outlet, a piston in such tube,\a spring also in such tube lconfined betweenone end of the same and said piston, a ,piston-rod for the piston connected with said wiper, and means first to actuate the wiper against the resiliency of said spring and then to release the same to the influence of the spring.

34. The combination in an envelop-sealing machine, with an ,oscillating wiper, of a tube provided with an air inlet and outlet, a piston in such tube, a spring also in such tube, adjustable means to coniine said spring between said piston and, one end of the tube, and a piston-rod for the piston conntel with said wiper.

seiner 35. in an envelop-sealing machine, a reciprocating-and oscillating swinging operating arms therefor, and a pneumatic regulator for said wiper, said regulator being connected 'at one end with one of said arms and at the connected therewith, tubes provided with y air inlets and outlets pivotally iponnected with said arms, spring-pressed pistons in such tubes, piston-rods for said pistons pivotally connected with said wiper, and means rst to actuate the wiper against the force of said spring-pressed pistons and then to release the wiper again to such force, as the wiper is reciprocated by the arms.

38. In an envelop-sealing machine, driving mechanism comprising a crank-arm adapted to be revolved in one direction, a projecting member on vsuch crank-arm, a

second crank-arm provided vwith a trip-arm extending into the path of such projecting 'memben a second trip-arm also' extending i'nto the path of saidmember, and a train of pmions actuated by said trip-arms and arranged to actuate said second crank-arm in the opposite direction to that given it by said iirst trip-arm, when said second triparm is actuated. by the projecting member.-

" 39. In an envelop-sealing machine, driving mechanism comprising a `crankarm. adapted to revolve in one direction, a projectlng member on such crank-arm, a second crank-arm, and two trip-arms and a train of pinions `arranged to rotate said second crank-arm in opposite directions,v said triparms extending into the path of the projecting member on said first-mentioned crankarrn and being provided at their outer ends with feet having curved surfaces forsaid projecting member to ride on, such feet preventmg shock or 'ar and backlash when the projecting mem er passes over'and off of thev trip-arms.

40. In an envelop-sealing machine, the combination, with a train of pinions, and me ns to actuate said pinions in opposite dir ctions', of a suitably mounted segmentgearfmeshing with one of such pinions, and a spring arranged to retain said segment-gear under tension.

4l. The combination, in an envelop- ,sealing machine, with a reciprocating depressor-pi'ate,v of an abutment roller, movable supporting means for such roller and means so to actuate such lsupporting means as to move said roller into 'and out of enies ascesi gagernent with said depressor-piate or an' envelop engaged thereby.

e2. The combination, in an envelop-sealing machine, with a rising and falling depressor-plate, oi' Aan abutment roller, Inovalole supporting' means tor such roller, and means so to actuate such supporting n'leans as to noove said roiier into engagement with said depressonplate or an envelop carried thereby while descending and to move such roller ont of such engagement at the time the depressor-plate ascends The combination, in an envelop-seal ing machine, with a reciprocating depressor pia-te having a ronghened, ahraded or scored surface, of an abutment roller located adjacent 'to-such surface, movable supporting means tor such roiler, and nieans so to actu atesuch supporting nieans as 'to move'such relier into and out of engagement With said depressor-plate or an envelop engaged thereby.

4e. ln an envelop-sealing machine, a reciprocating` depressor -plate, an ahnt-nient rolle-r adapted to operate in conjunction with sad depressorf; iate, and actuating niechanism for such roiler cons erin the roller, ring-pressed arnn'a' link connecting' arms, and a 'cani adapted to ntirate arm against s e5. in lan envelop-sealing machine, the

combination, with a Wiper and Wiper-support e pted to grasp an envelop iiap and to ni en the gninnied surta-ce oi such iiap, oi depressor-plate adapted to engage the envelop and withdraw its liap from said wiper and rifiper-support, such depressorplate having an uneven, irreguiar or broken surface Where the moistened gnnnned sur# .tace of the iap conta ria adherinr thereto.

i an niacnine, the ina-tion, k the flap of' an 3,01a C r o.' 'l -s to operate said support. hina, the g support oi a counter, counter, and .-ns carried by said support for operating erich mechanism 'when an envelop iap is in position on the support.

e8. in an envelop-sealing machine, tie combination, with a counter, and actuatino o't a supporting second-nientioned cts therewith to prevent i mechanism therefor, oi a recipro port for the flap of an envelop,l pressed trip carried hy said supper dog arranged to actuate said trip agespring` intoy operative relation with mechanism when the support more direction.

49. ln an envelop-sealing machine. .I e combination, 'with a counter, and acti mechanism therefor, of a reciprocatiport for the Hap of an envelop, a s pressed trip carried by said support, trip having a member extending o'. support and adapted to be held down o envelop nap held thereon, a dog arran@ actuate said trip against its spring int( ative relation with such mechanism the support moves in` one direction., means to hold the envelop flap on the port so as to hold down said trip men'V While the trip operates the counter.

50. ln an envelop-sealing machine, combination, with a reciprocating su rt for the iap of an envelop, means to ret iiap on said support, and a spring-pt trip carried by the support and adapt be retained in 'a depressed position o ilap, lof a counter, a rotaryv rod springated in one direction, actuating mechar between said counter and rod, and a n on said rod 1iying in the path of trayei in trip when depressed and capable of rot the rod against its spring and operating counter when contacted with by the trio.

5i. in an envelop-sealing machine, l` combination, with a reciprocating, sn for the yilap of an envelop, means to ret; 'Hap on said support, a spring-pressed carried hy the support and adapted to retained in a depressed position iiap, and a dog arranged to depress against its spring when the snp port nic one direction, of a counter, a rotary spring-actuated in one direction, act rneclw-nisrn hetween said f :ounter and 'finger on said rod l the pat l of the trip when dei hen com N. H. GRAHAM. 

